Redcliffe and Caboolture welcome intensive care nursing specialist

Redcliffe and Caboolture Hospital has welcomed a new Clinical Nurse Consultant to its Intensive Care team as part of a push to enhance intensive care services in Moreton Bay.

Jesse Spurr has been appointed to the new role of Clinical Nurse Consultant to the Caboolture and Redcliffe Intensive Care Unit (CRICU) and would ensure the smooth running of intensive care services across both hospitals.

The new model of care, driven out of the MNHHS Health Service Strategy 2015-2020 has increased the ICU capacity at Redcliffe Hospital by two beds to seven, and will be followed by the launch of two Intensive Care Specialist covered ICU beds at Caboolture Hospital.

“An intensive Care Unit over two sites is a novel venture in Queensland and I will be working across both in a bid to ensure clinical procedures are standardised as much as possible and to expand the clinical governance activities and audit programs,” Jesse said.

“Both units have a very strong culture and I see my role as one which will seek to meld the overlapping cultures and make sure that necessary site-specific procedures are well known to all staff.”

ICT infrastructure and Telehealth are vital enablers of the CRICU model and will provide a constant avenue for flow of communication between the Caboolture and Redcliffe ICU pods.

As well as the Medical, Nursing and Allied Health teams located on the floor at Redcliffe and Caboolture respectively, there will be shared ICU ward rounds via video link and consultation and support between medical and nursing staff between sites.

Dr Hamish Pollock is the Medical Director for ICU and has been instrumental in leading this new venture into a reality.

Education is a key component of Jesse’s position and two nurse educators have been appointed. Kylie Jacobs will be at Redcliffe and Kylie Hillier at Caboolture.

“Training is already well underway and all staff are excited about the new venture,” Jesse said.

“Nicola Barker-Gregory, NUM Redcliffe ICU and Rose Cooper, NUM Caboolture CCU, have created a culture of adaptability and enthusiasm for progress in the Nursing staff, which is a vital enabler for thesuccess of CRICU.

“One of my aims is to pursue a research agenda so that in 12 months this unique model will be recognised Australia-wide.

“I want to see CRICU personnel presenting at conferences around Australia and around the world as we continue to make a difference for our critically unwell patients.”

The two new ICU beds at Caboolture were opened on the 3 August.